WAND Applauds Congresswoman Barbara Lee for Authorization For Use of Military Force (AUMF) Repeal Amendment

Amdt. would repeal the 2001 AUMF that authorized the United States “War on Terror”

June 29, 2017, Washington, D.C.-- Today, Women’s Action for New Directions Director of Government Affairs, Erica Fein, made the following statement in response to Representative Barbara Lee’s amendment to repeal the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) that was adopted in the House Appropriations Committee Markup:

“For too long, our government has been using a 2001 law to justify US military operations all over the world, not just in Afghanistan but also in Yemen, Pakistan, Somalia, and Syria. The repeal of this law would re-establish proper Congressional prerogatives to debate and vote on whether to send our troops into harm’s way -- especially at a time when some of those who have served face the prospect of deportation.

“Congress’s decision not to debate, review, or change this 16-year old authorization means they have abrogated their oversight responsibilities. Further, subsequent presidents have not only waged endless wars, but they have also sought historically high levels of spending to conduct them. This year, Congress will debate and vote on a $700 billion Pentagon budget, hundreds of billions of dollars more than peak spending during the Reagan buildup or the Vietnam War. Moreover, the Trump administration has begun to conduct military operations in Syria -- against Syrian and Iranian-backed forces -- without Congressional authorization.

“Repeal of the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force will send a strong signal that the executive branch should be constrained in its ability to conduct military operations abroad.

“WAND strongly applauds Congresswoman Lee for her tireless work on this issue and urges Congress to uphold this provision as the legislation is advanced through the legislative process.

Women’s Action for New Directions (WAND) is a grassroots advocacy organization that empowers women to be agents of change to reduce violence and militarism, support nuclear disarmament, and redirect excessive Pentagon spending to unmet needs in our communities. Twitter @WomensAction | wand.org